Tigers to announce local junior Aaron Woods as new captain

ROBBIE Farah will see out his contract at the Tigers but The Daily Telegraph can reveal Aaron woods is expected to be unveiled as the club’s new captain.

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THE wonderful week for the Wests Tigers looks set to continue with local junior Aaron Woods expected to be unveiled as the club’s new skipper.

A day after it was confirmed Robbie Farah would see out the final two years of his deal and be part of the leadership group, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Woods could be confirmed as his replacement as early as Friday.

Farah led the Tigers for seven seasons, but as the uncertainty about his immediate future intensified, he relinquished the captaincy. He made it clear to club officials that even if he hung around, he’d happily play out his time under somebody else.

Woods was seen as the early favourite, and made it known he was happy to take over from Farah if approached by coach Jason Taylor. He was named as captain for a couple of games last season while Farah was injured.

Dene Halatau, Chris Lawrence and new recruit Matt Ballin all have more experience, and were named in the seven-man leadership group on Wednesday, which Woods was also a part of. However, Halatau and Lawrence only have a year to run on their deals, and Ballin is no certainty to start in front of Farah at hooker.

Woods is hugely popular at Concord, has the big-game experience with NSW and Australia, and grew up on Norton St in Leichhardt.

Aaron Woods and Robbie Farah with fellow local juniors Mitchell Moses, Luke Brooks and Kyle Lovett.

At just 24, the bearded prop would become one of the youngest captains in rugby league.

The likely appointment of Woods would continue the game’s trend of appointing props as skippers, with North Queensland’s Matt Scott, Parramatta’s Tim Mannah and Canterbury’s James Graham all leading from the front.

Woods, Luke Brooks, Mitch Moses and James Tedesco are seen as the long-term future of the joint venture. Woods is locked in until the end of 2017.

Wests Magpies legend and former captain Noel Kelly backed Woods to cope with the extra responsibility.

“I think he’ll handle it all right, and he can lean on guys like Robbie and Matty Ballin _ he’ll be surrounded by some pretty good players,’’ Kelly said.

“He also seems to have a pretty good knowledge of the game.’’

Woods told The Daily Telegraph last month: “I’d love to be captain, but I haven’t had any chats with ‘JT’ about it.

“I was lucky enough to captain a couple of games last year. I’d take it with both hands, and if I didn’t get it, I’d support and encourage the next leader we’d have at our club.’’

Woods doesn’t play 80 minutes, but is capable of playing long minutes, and could remain on the park even longer with just eight interchanges next year.

Originally published as Tigers to announce local junior Aaron Woods as new captain